Blog

Issue Overviews

IN THIS ISSUE January/February 2010 Those of us working in the field believe that science centers make important contributions to individuals, communities, and nations. But how can we document and demonstrate that science centers are making a difference? This issue presents a “public value” framework and describes evidence to help centers make the case for... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE September/October 2009 Climate change, genetic modification of foods, stem cell research, nanotechnology, ocean resource management, alternative energy production—these are just a few of the fields of current scientific and technical endeavor that directly impact human lives. In all of them, choices made by scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and government officials both spark public... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE July/August 2009 As science centers and museums welcome increasingly diverse audiences, many of them are working to accommodate the linguistic needs of their visitors and to foster a sense of ownership and belonging. Immigrants, indigenous populations, and visitors who are Deaf bring a variety of languages with them to science centers around... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE May/June 2009 In a rapidly changing world, science centers must be agile and ready to innovate even in the most challenging times. In fact, demanding circumstances can be the catalysts that inspire centers to serve their communities in new ways while preserving a consistent vision. In this issue, we look at instances... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE March/April 2009 The Toronto Declaration, adopted in June 2008 by the Fifth Science Centre World Congress, established public health as a priority for science centers, citing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for child and maternal health and disease prevention. In this issue, we explore the efforts of science centers worldwide to... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE January/February 2009 Science centers serve a variety of core audiences, from visitors to volunteers to Internet users. But who are these audiences and what kinds of experiences are they looking for? A recent Reach Advisors–ASTC survey identified mothers of young children as one of the largest science center audiences, and men over... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE November/December 2008 In 2009, science centers and museums will celebrate the Year of Science, Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, and the International Year of Astronomy. Every year, many institutions plan programs around global initiatives like Earth Science Week and international holidays like World Environment Day. New celebrations such as NanoDays and the Cambridge... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE September/October 2008 In April, ASTC committed to a new strategic direction, recognizing the responsibility of science centers to address critical societal issues locally and globally. The Toronto Declaration, presented at the Fifth Science Centre World Congress in June, underscored ASTC’s new focus, proclaiming that science centers can be “a powerful force for... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE July/August 2008 In today’s economy, science centers faced with shrinking resources are challenged to find innovative ways of doing more with less. How can science centers save money without sacrificing content or mission? In this issue, directors, chief executive officers, directors of operations, and other staff share their successes with strategies such... Read More

IN THIS ISSUE May/June 2008 Science centers regularly collect data about exhibits and programs, documenting how visitors respond to what the institution offers to public audiences. But once the report is filed, what happens to this knowledge? Is it used to inform daily practice, influence future planning, or demonstrate to a funding organization that the... Read More